I'm having difficulty solving the following equation for \(a\):
\(3a²x-2a³=x³ \)
Can anyone help me with the steps? Thanks very much in advance.
Solve for a:
3 a^2 x - 2 a^3 = x^3
Subtract x^3 from both sides:
-2 a^3 + 3 a^2 x - x^3 = 0
The left hand side factors into a product with three terms:
-(a - x)^2 (2 a + x) = 0
Multiply both sides by -1:
(a - x)^2 (2 a + x) = 0
Split into two equations:
(a - x)^2 = 0 or 2 a + x = 0
Take the square root of both sides:
a - x = 0 or 2 a + x = 0
Add x to both sides:
a = x or 2 a + x = 0
Subtract x from both sides:
a = x or 2 a = -x
Divide both sides by 2:
Answer: |a = x or a = -x/2
Solve for a:
3 a^2 x - 2 a^3 = x^3
Subtract x^3 from both sides:
-2 a^3 + 3 a^2 x - x^3 = 0
The left hand side factors into a product with three terms:
-(a - x)^2 (2 a + x) = 0
Multiply both sides by -1:
(a - x)^2 (2 a + x) = 0
Split into two equations:
(a - x)^2 = 0 or 2 a + x = 0
Take the square root of both sides:
a - x = 0 or 2 a + x = 0
Add x to both sides:
a = x or 2 a + x = 0
Subtract x from both sides:
a = x or 2 a = -x
Divide both sides by 2:
Answer: |a = x or a = -x/2
\(3a^2x-2a^3 = x^3\\ -x^3 + 3a^2x - 2a^3 = 0\\ x^3 - 3a^2x + 2a^3 = 0\\ (x^3-a^3)+(3a^3-3a^2x)=0\\ (x-a)(x^2+ax+a^2)+3a^2(a-x)=0\\ (x-a)(x^2+ax+a^2)-3a^2(x-a)=0\\ (x-a)(x^2+ax-2a^2)=0\\ (x-a)(x^2-a^2+ax-a^2)=0\\ (x-a)((x-a)(x+a)+a(x-a))=0\\ (x-a)(x-a)(x+a+a)=0\\ (x-a)^2(x+2a)=0\\ x-a=0\quad \text{OR}\quad x+2a = 0\\ a = x\quad\text{OR}\quad a=-\dfrac{x}{2}\)
I have more detailed solution on the factorization :)